I've used phpBB for a year, then switched to SMF and I've really enjoyed it for a free forum software.

I'll be getting enough money to "potentially" buy a vB license next week, but I need a few questions answered, and I need to think about it first.

Positives of Switching:
+Most Recognized software (most users aren't familiar with SMF and its layout)
+Great Support (From what I've heard)

Negatives I can see:
-Cost
-Making sure everything goes well in transfer
-I noticed even modifications cost money



So my questions are:

Is there a conversion software that can convert SMF easily and bring over my members, posts, and all those things?

Are there free Modifications? And is there a package manager (or something that comes with vB that installs modifications like the smf one)

I've also heard that it is really tedious and hard to update, is this true or no?

I am not good at coding AT ALL, so that makes it a bit difficult for me with some things, but I usually get around it.

I'll probably have more questions when I think of more things, but I'm really considering switching, mainly because of the first positive I've mentioned.


Thanks in advance to any replies.

There are tons of free modifications out there. In fact, the vast majority are free.

IMPEX is the only way to convert forums. Many have gone from SMF so I don't think you will have a problem. I am pretty sure your passwords will need to be reset as SMF use encryption.

vBulletin.org - The Official vBulletin Resource! is full of free modifications. In reality the paid modifications make up about 1% of the total mods for vbulletin if I had to make a good guess.

It's very simple to update since the Product system has been implemented.

Alright, I'm gonna buy a license Monday.

I'll do a few test runs with impEx and see how it works so I have less of a chance of messing it up.

Let us know how it goes. Look forward to seeing your site take off with vBulletin

I just switched one of my forums from SMF to vB in December. It was the only non vB one I had, and like you said for freeware... was good. Personally I HATE impex,as I had huge issues with it in a previous import, but it went smooth with the SMF to vB.
The only things I noticed that were annoying, but easily fixable... were
1. birthdays.. for whatever reason all the birthdays changed to nothing in the import, which I did not notice till after the board went live. Due to this .. probably I dunno.. every or close to every .. member was fooked and had to reset their options, change passwords etc just to post again.
2. Permissions were borked bad, again easily fixable.. My admins were in a banned usergroup and the members were not.. was kinda funny to see.
3. All the forums defauted to being viewed in decending order by thread title.. which is beyond confusing, but again easily fixed..

In all converting was not an issue, just little annoyances, that are easily outweighed by the benefits of vB.

Good luck with the import.

Thanks for the info Liz. I'll be looking out for that stuff.

I have a few more questions. I just bought my vB license (geting processed now) and I want to do a few test runs, but can I install more than 1 vB? I want to set up a test forum to do a few impex test runs but is that possible since you have to buy each copy. I'm not sure how it works at all?

Also, how were you able to get into the board if you're admin usergroup was banned. I'd like to know so if I have the same problem.

I can answer one of those questions. You can install as many boards as you want, as long as it is on the domain name you registered it for.

but only one of them can be public. The rest have to be password protected.

installing my first ever vB board now. Got my fingers crossed.